19-year-old nursing student Meah Jenkins, 37-year-old Eric Washington identified as victims in deadly Compton July 4th shooting

COMPTON, Calif. (KABC) -- An emotional vigil held on Monday honored the lives of three people who were killed during Fourth of July celebrations in Compton over the weekend. Meah Bordenave-Jenkins, 19, was a nursing student, and Eric Washington, 37, was a current Housing Authority employee and a former aide to California State Assemblymember Mike Gipson. They were both shot and killed at a large party in Compton on Saturday night. Dozens of loved ones and community members gathered for a vigil and rally against gun violence at Compton City Hall on Monday. Devastated family members shed tears and clung to each other during the event.

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WilluChill News Desksaid Tina Johnson, Washington · Published Saturday, September 19, 2026 at 4:20 PM UTCUpdated Sunday, September 20, 2026 at 6:26 PM UTC

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In a statement, HACLA said Washington joined the organization in 2019 as an intern, and later returned in 2022 as a community relations specialist. In honor of Washington's impact, Build Hope Inc., HACLA's nonprofit affiliate, will establish the Eric Washington Community Impact Award beginning this year. "Presented annually during Build Hope's scholarship celebration for HACLA youth, the award will honor a young person whose leadership, service, and commitment to community reflect the values Eric embodied every day," the organization wrote in a press release.

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